(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[Guilt Puppy]

"Not negotiable?" He looks back and forth, from Fendric to Nurthk, briefly. "Everyone stay put, because we're at an impasse, and if I see anyone move, things get ugly." He glares at Fendric, over Nurthk's shoulder. "The weapon and the armor stay with me. Everything else I have is yours... About 300 plate in that. If that's not enough for you, and I don't honestly expect it is, but if it isn't, then we'll have to have it the bad way."

Turning, he answers Nurthk.

"So after I was put in charge, not chief really, just in charge... What happened then? Then I had a whole tribe of these dogs asking how they were supposed to get fed, and waiting to gut me if I didn't have an answer quick. Game's been thinned lately, and this lot's not smart enough to farm or anything so clever." He shakes his head with contempt. "So I did the thing I came here to get away from in the first place: I put my neck out for the profit of men."

At this point in his telling, he looks at Oliver, and says, pointedly: "Oh yes, I know your kind well, too."

"A lot approached us," he says, returning his attention to Nurthk. "Humans, not sure who they were, exactly... Southkingdomers, I'd say, by the dialect. Offered food in exchange for weapons, at a nice rate, so long as those weapons came from these cities. So, what was I supposed to do?" He shakes his head: It's clear that his regret is genuine, and that it has more to do with who he's worked for than what he's done. "The last chief died on a human job. Should've known better."

 

[dpdx]

Fendric's expression changes to bewildered disbelief as the orc speaks. Hiritus does not sheathe his weapon, but lowers it slightly - his attention still on the orc as he relates his story to Nurthk.

"Shavah? Tatlock? Could you please take this girl back to the inn? Father Tanor should be there, but if he is not, you can send one of the townspeople for him. Once he's with them, come back."

Fendric returns his attention to the orc. "They are going to collect the young one, so as to remove her from this... environment. And I am now going to dispense healing. I would strongly suggest that you do not react. Surely you would agree that there are still a number of people in this room who could ruin your... career, if you insist on it."

Fendric, indeed, starts his healing by walking over to the girl and casting a Cure Light.

[Cure Light is going to heal a minimum of 6 points when Fendric casts it. I presume that will bring a little girl to full?]

 

[Festy_Dog]

Nurthk nods in understanding of the story.

"Not what I expected, but it makes sense," he says, leaning on his double-axe now, "If you could make some trade offer to the human communities in the region as a form of compensation for this, which you could pass off as an action taken without your approval, then you may have another means of feeding your people. If you could find something they'd be interested in.

"To be honest, there's a war making it's way here. Perhaps an ally against this unknown foe is what the humans would appreciate. Earn some trust there and a trade agreement of some kind wouldn't be too hard."

Nurthk looks over to Fendric.

"We couldn't take his equipment from him, sending him unarmed and injured back to his troops would be... well, I don't think they'd be eager to listen to him. And then the town would still have a problem," he explains.

 

[dpdx]

(backing this out because of the readied action.)

 

[Guilt Puppy]

As Fendric takes his first step toward the girl, (so, before the last two posts) the orc reaches to his neck, pulling a bead from just below the collar of his plate; he casts it to the floor in one quick movement, then turns leaping as it blooms into a great mass of flame that quickly fills the room.

(All in room, 16 fire damage, Reflex DC 14 for half.)

Aerda, standing over the girl, sees her disappear beneath a carpet of fire. When at last it dissipates, it is clear that she has not survived the inferno.

The crates and barrels throughout the room take the fire quickly, and the heat in the room becomes intense. Kicking off the wall, the orc lands in a crouch with his weapon at ready.

(Fendric's initiative, as his move triggered the readied action.)

20 Oliver
14 Shavah
13 Nurthk
11 Raven
11 Hiritus
9 Aerda
8 Tatlock
6 Niccolo
1 Orc
1 Fendric

(Edit: Fixed intiative order, as readied actions change position in initiative.)

 

[dpdx]

Fendric: Init 1, AC 16, HP 25/49. Hiritus: Init 22, AC 17, HP 29/37.

[See OOC thread. I have a few problems with this.]

[Reflex Saves: Fendric 9 +2 = 11 (fails); Hiritus 16 +4 = 20 (succeeds).]

The blast catches Fendric unawares (this - for healing?) as it singes his black robe. Looking at what used to be the girl, Fendric turns and hurls himself at the orc, swinging with his flail.

[Attack: 17 +6 = 23; Damage: 8 +1 = 9.]

 

[DrZombie]

Reflex 8+2 = 10 bugger

Raven tries to shoot the orc as soon as he moves but he is too late. With a curse he shoots arrow after arrow at the vile creature.

(is the bless still up?)

11+15=26 dmg 4+3+1=8
11+12=23 dmg 8+3+1=12
6+5=11 dmg nevermind
+1 to attack if still blessed.

 

[Festy_Dog]

[ooc: rewinding a bit, ref save 13]

Nurthk opens his mouth to respond to the orc's story but is taken unawares by the explosion, collapsing prone where he stood, now unconcious. For the better part though he doesn't start bleeding everywhere, he just smoulders a bit.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

(Action on hold until we get the OOC stuff sorted out. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long.)

 

[DrZombie]

OOC : Raven's sense motive is 0..... I rolled a 14. Too bad. Let's get on with the show.